Court and tribunal fees increased by 10%
Many court and tribunal fees increased by 10% in May 2024.
The Ministry of Justice revealed plans last November to increase over 200 court and tribunal fees by 10%. Following consultation, the list of 202 fees was trimmed by 30 and the increased fees took effect at the start of May.
Consultation responses
The consultation received 52 responses, of which 62% were from the legal or public sector.
The consultation asked respondents if they agreed that a 10% fee increase was appropriate. Over 60% of respondents disagreed, citing cost of living concerns and stating that 10% was too high. Many also felt that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMTCS) does not currently offer good value for money. There was particular concern about the backlog of cases.
The government responded by saying the additional funding raised through fee increases ‘will make a significant contribution to the funding of further improvements to the service’. It is estimated the fee increases will raise an additional £35m.
Court fees haven’t been increased since September 2021. The plan is for an increase every two years going forwards.
Which court fees have increased?
Among the fees to increase are:
- Fees for landlords and agents seeking to evict via Civil Proceedings
- Applications for Grant of Probate fees
- Family court fees such as parental orders, child arrangement orders, applications for adoption
- While the cost of a divorce or civil partnership dissolution does not rise, the fee for a financial order application and financial consent order does increase.
For full details of the current and proposed fees, visit the government website:
For more information, speak to one of Bird & Lovibond’s expert lawyers. Whatever the legal problem, they can guide you through the options to find the quickest and most cost-effective solution.